Airway system



May 2, 1933. .J. P. BUCKLEY AIRWAY SYSTEM Filed Sept. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l m E. 4 Q JE 3 u .50 02.25am

May 2, 1933. J. P. BUCKLEY AIRWAY SYSTEM Filed Sept. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hwn Dakar-2025:.

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Patented May 2, 1933 l UNITED .STATES' JOHN P: BUCKLE'Y, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AIR-WAY sYs'rnM Application filed september 1 7, 1929.. Serial mieeaese. w

This invention relates to airways such as are governed by radiobeacons.

Many such beacons are now being installedv between cities for the purpose of providing an air course over which an aircraft may directly fly. A u r a 2 The radiobeacons are placed between predetermined points at fixed distances apart, such as for example, two hundred miles. To render the system more efiective as well as to indicate emergency landing fields, marker beacons are placed at selected positions along the course such as every twenty-five miles along the system. I

'Such marker beacons, however, are under the supervision of one or more attendants, their reliability equalingonly the amount of attention which may be given by the human element in such cases. v

My invention simplifies the practice heretofore known andobviates the expense of attendance; assures a more reliable signaling systembetween the pilot and beacon; provides low-power transmission apparatus for long distance communication, particularly from an aircraft to a remote station, together with means for operating a danger signal when an aircraft has entered a predetermined zone, thereby creating an aerial block system, a signalingcircuit for burn-outs, and a remote control for the actuating member of the sets and beacon lights;

With these and other objects in-view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specially described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: i i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the system showing the various controlsof the farthest marker beacon along the airway. U v

Fig. 2 is a modification of theinvention showing how an aircraft may automatically control the beacons instead of having the beacons controlledfrom a remote station as in Fig. 1. i I The numeral 1 designates a telephone receiver in a remote station serving, in this in I, stance, as one end ofthe electrical conductors 2 and 3, to wh ch is connectedthe double-pole connecting blocks. 21and -22 suitably insu-. flated from the arm 20 as indicated.

. .;Fig. 1 shows the system on, the lighting cir- 20, the filamentcircuits ofv the receiving, transmitting sets and themotor'circuit, as

positely opposing therelays when energized.

of an aircraft,l on entering the zone, will switch A, which reversibly controls the currentfrom batteries '5, whenelectrically'con nected to the battery by switch 6. a 5

The leads 7 and 8, connect the receiver to the electrical conductors, while the switch 9, when turned to the right putson a battery 'source over the conductor 3, relay 10, and

ground return 11. I

The armature 12, electrically closes a cir-- cuit through the electricalconductors 2and 3 when the relay is energized.

The numeral 13 designates a marker beacon,-in this instance, the farthest one of the system, showing the relationship of the bea- 'cons circuit to the electrical conductors 2 and i 3, in which the polarized relays 14 and 15, are in serics'with conductor 2; The armature 16, which is free to be drawn forwardly or backwardly, is connected with the switch arm 17. c The upper portion carries a metallic plate 18 suitably insulated from switch arm'17.

The armature 19 is connected with switch arm 20,'in like manner. Near the topof the arm 20 and fixed thereto are two metallic cuit to beacon light 64 as controlled by arm controlled by arm 17, and the monitoring circuit for signaling burn-outs, as'controlled by relay 32 and 62; the springs 32 and 62 op- The receiving/set 29 is maintained continuously energized so that therelay 39 is continuously. in condition for operationz'against the action of the spring 39L The'relay tongue is thus receptively poised, so that the signal actuate the relay by an overbalance of the power of the spring infavor of the magnet,

atwhich time the circuit lO, and subsequently the circuit 40" becomes energized as the brush 50 is released from the insulation block 54. It is noted thatthe.two'circuits control the magnet and "armature42 and43,which' I magnetsare oppositely opposed by spring 76, andin turn "the: keyed clutch"4 4",which in meshing with its counterpartfon "disc 45,

causes the said disc together with the connecting sleeve 70 and its block signal disc 48, to revolve with the shaft 46, the circuit 40; composed of brush 72, wire 71, source 41, wires 74 and 75, brush 50, disc 45, and sleeve 70, shorting the circuit 40, continues to hold the block signal on until one revolution will have taken place, when the insulation block ill have again turned under the brush 50. During this interval the aircraft will have gained the far side of the zone releasing the relay 39 for a subsequent signaling impulse.

The secondary circuit of the transformer 27 is identified on one side by wire 28, which loops around the coil and connects with the conductor 2, returning from the receivers 1, by way of conductor 3, and upwardly over wire 68, to brush 69, thence over sleeve 70 to disc 45, and brush 50, thence to wire 73, condenser 77 and to the coil by wire 7 7 Connecting the filament circuits of the receiving and transmitting sets and the motor circuit are the two wires 30 and 31, in which there is disposed in series the relay 32 and the source 33. The motor circuit completes itself through the motor 58, as shown, while the filament circuits are broken off as at point marked Fil., the transmitter filament leads being identified by numeral 34.

The shaft 46, also supports the disc 47 and the gear 49, the disc having the code letter identifying the station on its periphery while the gear meshing with worm-gear 5? of the motor 58 is provided with a metallic ring 56, broken on top by a signal letter 56 in such a way as to interrupt the monitoring circuit when energized.

The monitoring circuit, controlled by the relays 32 and 62, is completed by the wires 68, brush '69, sleeve 70, shaft 46, disc 49, ring 56, and signal letter 56, brush 53, wires 60, and ,59, source 59, wire 59", armature 61, wire plate 22, wire 66, contacting with the base of armature 67 and thence to conductor 2, to receiver 1, and return over conwires 63 connect with the lamp 64.

To operate the light circuit a greater voltage is required to move the armature 19 than that used for the armature 16; this is accomplished by moving the switch 6 of the remote control station to the tap 6a of the batteries. When Off as during daytime, the arm also breaks the relay circuit of the monitoring system which only operates when the light is energized.

1 The antennae 37 and 38, and the grounds 37 and 38 of the transmitter 36, and the receiver 29, are of the usual design. In practice, to energize the system the switch 9 of the. remote control station is thrown to the right. This movement completes the relay circuit composed of conductor 3 and the ground return 11. The armature of the relay having established a metallic bridge across the two conductors at their farthest end, the double-pole switch 4 may now be thrown forwardly to energize the polarized relay 14. This action is for the purpose of controlling the filaments and motor control as shown.

In series with one wire, there is a relay which becomes normally closed when the fila ments and motor circuits are on.

Should it be evening time when the beacon light must be lighted, the double-pole switch is again thrown forwardly and while so held the switch 6 may be moved over the taps which contact with the batteries for higher voltage, which alone may cause the armature 19 to throw its arm. The light service also has arelay in its circuit which is normally closed when the light is energized.

The purpose of the relay together with the relay of the filament circuit is to provide signaling means through an electric source which automatically is held open when the service is On and closed when the serv ice fails to function. In the case of the light circuit, as during the daytime, provision is made to prevent the signal from traversing that particular block by having the arm break the circuit on breaking the light service.

The monitoring circuit controlled by the two relays is provided with a signal letter for identifying that particular beacon indicated by numeral 56 on disc 49, the brush 69 providing a return circuit to the source through the shaft. The shaft also supports loosely two discs bound together by a sleeve and revolvably controlled by an electromagnetic clutch which in turn is controlled by a relay of the receiving set. The circuit energizing the electromagnetic clutch is put on when the relay overpowers its spring on becoming fully sensitized by an aircrafts signal. An auxiliary circuit shown as 40 is provided to short the relay circuit through the electromagnetic clutch until one complete revolution of the shaft will have taken place, by which time the aircraft will have gained the farthest side of the zone, when the whole will again resume its normal con dition, that is, receptively for another aircrafts signal.

It-will be seen that the beacons letter is normally broadcasted and so spaced by interval of time as to be followed by a series of dots when the clutch is closed by the passage of an aircraft, which dots and dashes continue to be broadcast by the transmitter until a resetting takes place, when without disturbing the beacons letter, the block sig naling dots will cease as the brush encounters the insulation block.

During this time of the block signal, the pilot in the aircraft may switch over from the signal notch and communicate withthe remote station through the receiving set via the conductors.

7 held backwardlyby' spring 84, to close the circuit 85, controlling the electromagnetic clutch 86, the companion part of the clutch forming a part of gear 87, which is mounted on shaft 88,- supporting the discs 89 and 90.

' Contacting therewith,-as shown, are brushes which means the lamp circuit is complete 91, 92 and 93;

The' metallic disc 90 is provided with an insulation block 94, and an insulation ring 95 with a segmentary metallic piece 96 on the ring. On theperiphery of the disc, dots and dashes 97 representing-the beacons letter, are successively placed in order.

The insulation disc 89 has a metallic band 98, broken as at points 99. The transmitter is provided with a multiplicity of power amplifying stages which may be rendered effective in varying degrees to control the transmission range. The circuit 100 leads-to a portion of the transmitting set, which when connected to the main portion of the set transmits the signal much farther away by employing a larger number of the power amplifier stages. when the metallic piece 96 contacts with the brushes 91 in the course of one revolution of the shaft 88. The circuit 101 serves to make and break the. current into dots and dashes. The circuit 102 represents the filament control, while circuit 85 controls the motor ,103, and the electromagnetic clutch 86, through the relay 81.

i The wires 104'lea'd to the transmitting set and connect with a photo-cell circuit, by

when tripped by the photo-cell, as during darkhours; The operator in the home ofiice desiring to start the system which may be composed of oneor .more stations along an airway closes switch 9. Thisaction energizes magnet 10 through battery 5, inductor 3, and ground return 11. The armature 12, having closed the circuit of wires 2 and 3, the double pole-switch 4 may now be thrown forward. At this instant all of the polarized' relays 14 along the line become energized, closing the circuits controlling the receiving and transmitting sets including the motor by closing of contacts at 18. The filaments of the two sets are now On and the motor being. energized, the stations letter is broadcasted continuously until an airplane enters its zone when the signals, in thefformof long dashes from'the airplane will actuate the receiving set 29, and in turn the relay 39, thereby clos- This is done momentarily ing the circuit 40 controlling the magnet .42. This actioncouples the metallic disc 45,.its cylindrical shaft 7 O, and the block signal disc 48 revolvably supported on shaft 46wl1ich is controlled by motor 58 to broadcast a series of dots during thesilent shortperiod of the broadcasting of the stations letter; that is, alternately, as the discs complete one revolution. This actionalso closes the receiving set circuit throughconductor 2, wire 28, transformer 27 wire 77 conclenser 77, wire 73, brush 50, disc 45, cylindrical shaft '70,

brush 69, wire 68, and conductor 3, then to the home station untilthe insulation block 54 is encountered completing one revolution under control of circuit 40. g

The relays 32 and 62 control a tell tale circuit to the home office when the radio setsor light system have been made incomplete by burn outs, etc. To place the light system on, the switch 6 is operated at the home ofiice Thisproduces a greater current over the conductors'to operate polarized relay 15. 'To

turn the system off, reverse switch 4 and polarized relays 14 and 15 are both restored to normalposition. The stations letter andthe block signals are transmitted on the same frequency. diiferentfrom that of thetelegraphic code signals and speech.

In the modified system shown in Fig. 2, the receiving set 82 is continuously'or intermittently on under clockcontrol. The aircraft on entering the zone energizes receiving set 82 andthrough its relay -81 closes the circuit 85 controlling the motor; The circuit 102 is then put on as the metallic disc revolves. At the same time, the circuit 101, broadcasts its letter and incidentally the position of the beacon. During the revolution of the shaft over its zone, to again resume its directional signal until the motor and clutchcircuit is 1 broken byspace or insulation block 99 of disc 89. 7

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to be'secured by Letters Patent is: l g

1. airway illuminating and radio system comprising in combination with a beacon station including a transmitter and receiver, illuminating means, a source of power, a remote station,.a line Wire circuit connecting said remote station and said beacon station, a plurality of'relays connected in' ,said'line wire circuit, one of said relays operating to control the energization of said i1 luminatmg means from said source of power, and another of said relays operating to conreceiver, means at said remote station for ohtrol the energization of said transmitter and serving signaling energyincident upon said receiver andtransmitted over said line wire circuit, and means at sa d remote station for selectively actuating said relays for independently controlling the energization of said illuminating means or the energization of said transmitter and receiver.

2. An airway illuminating and radio system comprising in combination with a be con station including a transmitter and receiver, illuminating means, a source of power, a remote station, aline wire circuit extending between said remote station and said beacon station, signal observing means connected with said line wirecircuit at said remote station, a plurality of relays connected in said line wire circuit, said relays being selectively responsive to energy tra smitted over said line wire circuit from said remote station, one of said relays operating to control the energization of said transmitter and receiver, and another of said relays operating to control the energization of said illuminating means independently of the transmission of signaling ener y from the receiver at said beacon station to said remote station.

3. An airway illumination and radio beacon system comprising a lighting devic a source of power for energizing said lighting device, a relay having contacts adapted to open or close the circuit between said source of power and said lighting device. a radio beacon unit including a transmitter and receiver, a power source for error-giving the power circuits of said radio transmitter and receiver, a relay for completing or interruptingthe circuit between said last mentioned power source and the power circuits of said transmitter and receiver, a remote control station, a line wire circuit extending between said remote control station, said lighting device and said radio beacon station, signal observing means at said remote control station connected with said line wire circuit, connections between said line wire circuit and the output of said receiving apparatus at said beacon station, and means connected with i said line wire circuit and actuated from said remote control station for controlling the energization of said lighting device from said first mentioned power source and controlling the energization of said transmitter and receiving apparatus from said second mentioned power source.

at. An airway 'lliuninating and radio beacon system comprising a lighting device, a radio beacon station including transmitting and receiving apparatus, a remote station, line wire circuit extending between said remote station, said radio beacon station and said lighting device, and means controlled. from said remote station for rendering said lighting device operative or inoperative, and separate means controlled from said remote station for controlling the operation of said transmitting and receiving apparatus at said beacon station.

5. An airway illuminating and radio beacon system comprising a lighting device and a radio transmitter and receiver, a remote control station, a line wire circuit interconnecting said remote control station, said lighting device and'said radio beacon station, and relays individual to said lighting device and said radio beacon station and connected with the line wire circuit, said relays being selectively controllable from said remote station for governing the operation of said lighting device and said transmitting and receiving apparatus. I i

6-. An airway illuminating and radio beacon system comprising a lighting device, a source of potential for energizing said lighting device, a circuit controller connecting said source of potential with said lighting device, a radio beacon station including a transmitter and receiver, power circuits for said transmitteran d receiver, a source of potential for energizing said power circuits, a circuit con troller for disconnecting said last mentioned source of potential with the power circuits of said transmitter and receiver, a line wire circuit, a remote control station connected with said line wire circuit, connections between said line wire circuit anal each ofsaid circuit controllers, and means at said remote control station for selectively controlling the operation of said circuit controllers for the inclependent energization of said lighting device and the energization of said transmitting and receiving apparatus.

7. An airway system comprising a beacon station including radio receiving and transmitting apparatus, an illuminating system, a source of power, a remote station, a line wire system interconnecting said beacon station and said remote station for controlling the said receiving and transmitting means from said remote station, a signal observing means at said remote station operative by signal current transmitted over said line wire system from said radio receiving apparatus, means at said remote station for controlling the operation of said radio receiving and transmittingapparatus and separate means controlled from said remote station for controlling the connection 01": said source of power with said illuminating system.

8. An airway system comprising a beacon station including a radio receiving and transmitting apparatus, illuminating means, a source of potential for energizing said illuminatingmeans, a remote station, an electrical circuit extending between said remote station,-said illuminating means and said beacon station, connections between said electrical circuit and said receiving apparatus at said beacon station, signal observing means connected with said electrical circuit at said remote station, a source of potential at said remote station, means for selectively transmitting energy of selected polarity from said remotestation to said beacon station over said electrical circuit and separate relays connected in said electrical circuit and selectively operative by vthe energy thus transmitted for controlling the connection betWen said source of potential and said illuminating means and for independently controlling the operation of said radio receiving and transmitting apparatus.

9. An airway system comprising a beacon station including radio receiving and transmitting apparatus, illuminating means, a source of potential for energizing said illuminating means, a remote station, an electrical circuit extending between said remotestation, said illuminating means and said beacon station, means at said remote station'for controlling the polarity of the circuit through said electrical circuit, a plurality of relays responsive to current pulses of different polarity transmitted over said electrical circuit for selectively actuating said relays, electromagnetic controls operated by said relays, means operated by one of said controls for conditioning said transmitting and receiving apparatus, means operated by another of said controls for controlling the connection between said source and said illuminating means according to the polarity of the pulses transmitted over said electrical circuit. In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature. r

' J OHN P. BUGKLEY. 

